Boys, aged 12 and 13, held after teenager stabbed in Oxford

Three boys, aged 12 and 13, have been arrested after a fight in Oxford city centre where a teenager was stabbed.

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the wrist during the fight between children at the junction of New Inn Hall Street and St Michael’s Street on Friday evening.

The injured teenager was taken to hospital but police said his injuries were “not life-threatening or life-changing”.

A 12-year-old boy and two 13-year-olds are being held on suspicion of affray.

A fourth person, a 40-year-old man, was arrested for obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty, Thames Valley Police said.

Officers said the “altercation between a group of children” happened shortly after 21:00 GMT.

In a statement, the force said: “Three boys left the Westgate shopping centre at around that time and walked along New Inn Hall Street, when a group of other children confronted them.

“This escalated into a fight, resulting in a 16-year-old boy being stabbed in the wrist.”

Det Sgt Hal McKend, of Oxford CID, said: “This altercation has escalated quickly into a fight, in which a boy aged in his mid-teens sustained a cut wrist as a result of a slash injury.

“I appreciate incidents such as this cause concern in our communities but I would like to reassure the public we are making good progress and have already made several arrests.”

The force has appealed for witnesses and anyone with doorbell or dashcam footage to get in touch.